Junior League of Peoria has been at work in the community to help our neighbors through this difficult time. We’ve been able to make a huge impact on our non-profit partners and continue to assist where we can! Thank you so much to our members and partners for the ideas and assistance.

Check out these highlights from our recent community outreach efforts:

• $1,000 donation to MidWest Food Bank: MidWest Food Bank provides food relief efforts to the Peoria community. Through their large number of volunteers, low overhead costs and strong buying power, every dollar donated evolves into a $30 impact on their community food efforts. Our donation will go towards their COVID-19 efforts and will assist addressing the increased need for food in our community.
• Essential Care Packages for the Neighborhood House: JLP Active Member LaKeisha Faggett has put together care packages with toilet paper, cleaner, tide detergent, soap, toothpaste, and dishwasher soap.
• Boys and Girls Club food deliveries: Many children under the age of 10 with working parents were not able to get to school lunch distribution sites. The Boys and Girls Club have been delivering 100 lunches to area children and families to fill the void. Active Member Jocelyn McDowell was able to partner with Avanti’s (a kind donation of 10% off their gondola lunch packs) to provide 100 lunches delivered on April 23rd.
• Dream Center food deliveries: Amy Apa has continued our 30 lunches, 3 times a week with the Dream Center. Barracks has been our catering group, they have been wonderful to work with and have been making the deliveries each day for us. We will continue this effort through April with talk of extending into May if the need is still there.  
• $1,000 donation to Crittenton Centers: Crittenton Centers provides families with formula, diapers, education and other support they need. The Junior League played a critical role in helping start the Crisis Nursery at Crittenton Center.
• $1,000 donation to Neighborhood House: Neighborhood House serves families in the 61605 zip code with meals, a food pantry, education and many other services. The Junior League partners with Neighborhood House to provide Kids in the Kitchen programming to students in its after school program.
• $1,000 donation to the Peoria Public Schools Foundation: The Peoria Public Schools Foundation supports Peoria Public Schools students in numerous ways. The Little Free Pantries are a partnership between the Junior League and the PPS Foundation. Located at PPS schools, the pantries provide free nonperishable food items to those living nearby.

Ongoing Community Outreach Programs

Kids in the Kitchen

An ongoing effort to educate and empower children to learn about nutrition and make healthy food choices. JLP volunteers work with kids directly to teach them skills they can use in the kitchen as well as new recipes and provide ingredients to take home and share with their families.

Done in a Day

(DIADs) These are short community projects that are planned out in advance and completed by our members in one day. Often involving working with community members in a way that hopefully has a positive impact. These may include, working with children, interacting with special needs adults, room flips, or volunteer support. Through these projects, the JLP supports other non-profit organizations in the area.

Past Projects

Adopt a School ● 2016-2018

Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum ● 2000-present

I Like Me ● 2006-2011

Hands on Peoria ● 2000-2006

Rolling River Playground ● 2000-2001

KeepSacks for Kids ● 1999-2007

Senior Services ● 1997-2000

Project Success ● 1996-2000

Families Forward ● 1995-1996

Riverfront Awareness ● 1994-1999

Guest Reader ● 1993-1997

Christmas in April* Peoria ● 1993-1996

Tri-Centennial Playground ● 1991-1992

Recycling Education ● 1991-2000

Race for the Cure (Peoria) ●

Women’s Health Awareness ● 1985-1991

Family House ● 1982-1991

Ballance-Herschel House Restoration ● 1979-2017

POEM ● 1979-1983

CARE ● 1978-1980

ZAP – Zoo Animal Project (Peoria Zoological Society) ● 1977-1979

Sonar Tide ● 1976-1984

YES – Youth Emergency Service ● 1974-1978

School Loan Program ● 1968-1973

Lakeview Museum Docents ● 1958-1967

Book Bazaar ● 1957-1958

JULEP’s Closet 1946 – 2013

Maternity Center / Well-Baby Clinic ● 1938-1944

Children’s Theatre & Puppet Shows ● 1935-1971